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make up Meaning & Definition

/ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/

What Does Make Up Mean?

Make Up is used as a verb meaning to form by fitting together or assembling. It can also mean to arrange typeset matter in (columns or pages) for printing.

Word Facts for Make Up

Part of speechverb
Pronunciation/ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/
Syllables2
Synonymscompose, comprise and constitute
Antonymsclone, copy and copycat
Verb formsmakes up, making up, made up

Make Up Definition (Verb)

  1. to form by fitting together or assembling

    make up a train of cars

  2. to arrange typeset matter in (columns or pages) for printing
  3. to combine to produce (a sum or whole)
  4. constitute, compose

    10 chapters make up this volume

  5. to compensate for (something, such as a deficiency or omission)

    make up the difference in lost pay

  6. to do or take in order to correct an omission

    make up a history exam

  7. settle, decide

    made up my mind to depart

  8. to wrap or fasten up

    make the books up into a parcel

  9. to prepare in physical appearance for a role
  10. to apply cosmetics to
  11. invent, improvise

    make up a story

  12. to set in order

    rooms are made up daily

  13. to become reconciled

    quarreled but later made up

  14. to act ingratiatingly and flatteringly

    made up to his aunt for a new bicycle

  15. to make advances : court
  16. compensate

    make up for lost time

  17. to put on costumes or makeup (as for a play)
  18. to apply cosmetics

Synonyms of Make Up

Make up synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Make Up

Make Up in a Sentence

He can make up the time next week.

What I lack in patience, I make up for in drive.

I plan to make up for my failed midterm.

Cuba took limited free market-oriented measures to alleviate severe shortages of food, consumer goods, and services to make up for the ending of Soviet subsidies.

He was a great storyteller and could make up a story on the spot.

I can make up a batch of stew in a few minutes, but it will take a few hours to cook.

Let's leave as soon as I make up my face.

They fight a lot, but they always manage to make up.

make up a train of cars

10 chapters make up this volume

make up the difference in lost pay

make up a history exam

made up my mind to depart

make the books up into a parcel

make up a story

rooms are made up daily

quarreled but later made up

made up to his aunt for a new bicycle

make up for lost time

the book is made up of 20 chapters

she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project

we'll have to make up the bookcase, which came in a box marked some assembly required

Word Forms & Grammar

made up

mak·ing up

makes up

make up

making up

make up (third-person singular simple present makes up, present participle making up, simple past and past participle made up)

make up (plural make ups)

Origin of Make Up

From Middle English maken up, equivalent to make + up (adverb).[1]

First Known Use

14th centuryt

Make Up Pronunciation

The standard pronunciation of make up is /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (ʌp).

Quick Answers About Make Up

What part of speech is make up?

Make up is a verb.

What is another word for make up?

You can replace make up with words such as compose, comprise and constitute. See the full list of make up synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of make up?

The opposite of make up can be expressed with words like clone, copy, copycat and duplicate.

What is the past tense of make up?

The past tense of make up is made up. The present participle is making up.

Merriam-WebsterReference content from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary and Collegiate® Thesaurus © Merriam-Webster Inc.Data credits & licensing